Last Tuesday, I attended CBC Edmonton's open forum on the Resource Royalties issue in Alberta. It was an interested affair with probably around 300 people piled into the auditorium at the Royal Alberta Museum.
The forum panel included the articulate Diana Gibson of the Parkland Institute, Al Hyndman from Magnus Limited, Tory House Leader Dave Hancock, and Dave Yager from HSE Integrated.
Notables in attendance included Alberta Liberal MLAs Hugh MacDonald, Harry Chase, and Bruce Miller, former Edmonton-Strathcona Green candidate Cameron Wakefield, U of A School of Business Dean Mike Percy, Federal ND candidate Linda Duncan, and New Democrat Leader Brian Mason. I think I also noticed fellow-blogger Ken Chapman in the audience.
Though the forum was geared towards the resource royalty rates, much of the debate centered around findings of the Auditor General that has shown that the Tories failed to Billions of Dollars under the current royalty regime over the past number of years.
Also, the best quote of the night has to go to Dave Hancock with his understatement of a response to Diana Gibson: "government is not a stiletto."
CBC has a great web page filled with information and media clips on the resource royalty issue - be sure to check it out. You can listen to the forum online here.
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Yup - I was there...came late but enjoyed the session. Thought it was a good discussion and exchange of concerns between people. Surprised at the small turnout though.
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